Page 467 - PRIDE AND PREJUDICE

Pride and Prejudice

was to come; and Mrs. Bennet, for many years after
Lydia’s birth, had been certain that he would. This event
had at last been despaired of, but it was then too late to be
saving. Mrs. Bennet had no turn for economy, and her

husband’s love of independence had alone prevented their
exceeding their income.
Five thousand pounds was settled by marriage articles
on Mrs. Bennet and the children. But in what proportions
it should be divided amongst the latter depended on the
will of the parents. This was one point, with regard to
Lydia, at least, which was now to be settled, and Mr.
Bennet could have no hesitation in acceding to the
proposal before him. In terms of grateful acknowledgment
for the kindness of his brother, though expressed most
concisely, he then delivered on paper his perfect
approbation of all that was done, and his willingness to
fulfil the engagements that had been made for him. He
had never before supposed that, could Wickham be
prevailed on to marry his daughter, it would be done with
so little inconvenience to himself as by the present
arrangement. He would scarcely be ten pounds a year the
loser by the hundred that was to be paid them; for, what
with her board and pocket allowance, and the continual
presents in money which passed to her through her

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